Row’s Corners

Row’s Corners

While the United Empire Loyalists of 1784 opened up the St.Lawrence River areas of Elizabethtown and Augusta late in the 18^th Century, it was not until the early 1800’s the tide of immigration reached the ‘back40’s’ of these townships.

One of these early homesteaders was farmer Peter McEachron who proved up on a Crown Grant of 200 acres on Lot No. 6 of the 4^th Concession of Elizabethtown on February 10, 1803.

McEachron, whose name is misspelled in Land Registry books as “McCatherine”, must have also been a speculator for 14 months after taking possession, he sold the entire 200 acres to Nathan Clark, McEachron’s attorney. Daniel McEachron, probably a son engineered the deal.

The Clark Family was to remain in possession of all or parts of Lot No. 6 for over 100 years. On February 4, 1844, Nathan Clark sold the eastern quarter, 50 acres, to his son Robert C.Clark.

Robert’s will, December 11, 1858, split the property among his children, Robert Jr., W.C. Clark, Reuel Clark and Mirole Clark.

What was the Country Road Garden Centre occupied the centre 17 acre tract of the old homestead, while separate residences sit on many parts of the old farm. The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville own several parcels of land hacked off the homestead.

When McEachron accepted his 200 acre grant the land was overgrown with forests.

Indians, still seen in the neighbourhood when McEachron arrived, had used the area for years for hunting and fur trapping activities.

Spruce and pine, tamarack and cedar, chokecherry trees and sugar plum bushes predominated. McEachron spent the summer of 1803 clearing lumber off his land. The pine and spruce trees gave him logs for his cabin. The cedar provided him with fencing.

Hunting was good and McEachron and his neighbours lived off the land, bagging deer, wildfowl and fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Edna’s Scrapbook”

is a paperback book written by Edna B. Chant and was published in 1998. Edna Chant was a reported with the “Athens Reporter” for 23 years and she is the author of four books.

Her book, which is made up of news clippings from various sources, from which we have taken excerpts, gives us a glimpse into life in our area for over a hundred year period ending with stories from 1975.

While her book covers many areas of Leeds and Grenville we have only focused on the area within Elizabethtown-Kitley Township.

Row’s Corners

John McNish of Rows Corners aged 66 years, was killed when struck by lightning while working in a field on May 10, 1883

Excerpts from:

The Athen’s Reporter from Jan 31, 1889 to Dec 31, 1889

Rows Corners

Jan 15 1889

Messrs Cole Bros of Row’s Corners have rebuilt their carriage works recently destroyed by fire, and are now ready to transact business as usual. Their pluck and enterprise are commendable